Green with envy

In part two Vicky Leigh explores the top five locations in a ranking of the best cities to live in if you’re keen to answer the ‘appel du vert’

- Vicky Leigh

Last month we looked at the French cities that ranked in 10th to fifth place in a study by Cadremploi and Figaro Immo of the top 20 locations for living and working ‘au vert’. Ranked on their average property price per square metre and several other criteria including unemployment rate, pollution level and journey time from Paris, these cities are attractive options for those keen to buy a home in a location that allows them to enjoy a more rural way of life but who also need to consider the practicalities of day-to-day living, such as being within easy commuting distance of work.

So, where else offers the best of both worlds? The results are in and these are the top five.

5. TOURS

Average house price: €250,000 Average price per m2: €2,120

Along with Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille and Lyon, Tours was one of the cities in which Green Party candidates secured victory in France’s municipal elections this summer, so environmental issues are clearly a high priority here.

It may be the gateway to the Loire Valley and its famous châteaux – which can of course be easily explored from Tours by bike on the Loire à Vélo cycling trail – but the Indreet-Loire capital is very much a destination in its own right.

Situated between the Cher and Loire rivers in Indreet-Loire, the city offers an enchanting mix of past and present, from the half-timbered buildings that line the popular Place Plumereau and the StGatien cathedral with its Gothic façade, to the new Olivier Debré Contemporary Art Centre, a striking exhibition space given over to the artist’s works.